🔗 Share this article Big 12 Conference Commissioner Calls Notre Dame Remarks After CFP Omission as ‘Completely Out of Bounds’ During a strong rebuke, Big 12 chief asserted that Notre Dame athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, was “completely out of bounds” for his remarks about the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Source of the Dispute The Fighting Irish has a gridiron scheduling agreement with the ACC and is a full member in other sports. Bevacqua has argued that the ACC hurt Notre Dame’s opportunities to qualify for the College Football Playoff, instead choosing to campaigning for the selection of the University of Miami. “They do great things for Notre Dame, but we bring tremendous football value to the ACC, and we couldn't comprehend why you would make an effort to try to hurt us in this process,” the athletic director stated. The Hurricanes ultimately secured the CFP invitation over Notre Dame, largely due to winning the head-to-head matchup between the two teams. Bevacqua further alleged that the ACC engaged in a coordinated social media campaign over multiple weeks indicating its support for Miami. An Egregious Response Subsequently on Tuesday, the Big 12 commissioner responded to the comments at the Sports Business Journal’s Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. “My opinion is that his actions has been egregious,” the commissioner said. “He is completely out of bounds in his approach and if he was in the room, I’d tell him the same thing.” This public criticism is especially significant given Bevacqua’s unique position. He serves on the College Football Playoff Management Committee with the ten FBS conference commissioners, advocating for the interests of football independent Notre Dame. Historical Context and Speculative Rumors Yormark further remarked the lifeline the ACC offered Notre Dame in the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, giving the Irish a complete conference schedule and a place in its title game. “His behavior has been egregious,” he said again. “It’s been egregious criticizing Jim Phillips, when they saved Notre Dame during Covid...” Speculation had spread about Notre Dame possibly leaving the ACC and partnering with the Big 12. Yet, Yormark's strong comments on Tuesday appear to make such a partnership unlikely in the near term. The Irish, who made the CFP final last season, have indicated they are declining a bowl game after missing out this season.